Flushing control for waste disposal systems



Jan. 24, 1967 R. K4 ENGHQLDT 3,300,148

FLUSHING CONTROL FOR WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 3, 1964 5 SheetS-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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Jan 24, 1967 R. K. ENGHOLDT FLUSHNG CONTROL FOR WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1964 INVENTOR. WCHARD K. ENC-noun www ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 R, K. ENGHOLDT 3,300,148

FLUSHING CONTROL FOR WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS Filed Jan. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 \o 1 9e 9o a r---x/ l OFF-TON Hof FFC- h5 INVENTOR. RICHARD Kuenowr Main/Maw ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,300,148 FLUSHING CONTROL FOR WASTE n DISPOSAL SYSTEMS Richard K. Engholdt, Wauwatosa, Wis., asssignor to Erie Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 335,637 3 Claims. (Cl. 241-33) This invention relates to a garbage disposal system.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved garbage disposal system wherein the system is effectively ushed after each operation thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from the specification an-d claims, as will obvious modifications of the two embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the motor operated switch mechanism used in the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but with the motor mounting plate removed;

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic layou-t of the preferred embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic layout of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the system shown therein includes a disposal unit having a water supply line 12 and a drain line 14 connected thereto. Disposal unit 10 may be of any conventional -design and since the construction details of such unit are not a part of this invention such unit is not described in detail herein. Broadly speaking, -unit 10 includes a grinding mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 16 and an electric motor for driving such mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 18.

Water to unit 10 is controlled by a solenoid operated on-off valve 20 the operation of which is controlled by a manually actuated single pole double-throw switch 22 and a motor operated switch unit 24.

The detailed construction of switch unit 24 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Switch unit 24 is shown schematically in FIG. 4. The unit is comprised of a control motor 26 having a mounting plate 27 which drives a rotatably mounted actuator cam 28 by means of pinion gear 30 mounted on a drive shaft 32. Cam 28 is rotatably mounted between plate 27 and a base plate 29 by means of a pin 31. Actuator cam 28 is provided with gear teeth 34 positioned for driven engagement with pinion 30. The actuator cam is provided with a switch actuator pin 36 and forward and return stop faces 38 and 40, respectively. Actuator 28 is biased to return position by a return spring 42 which acts to rotate the actuator 28 clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 4) until face 40 makes contact with a stationary stop member 44. Forward rotation of actuator 28 by motor 26 will cause pin 36 to engage the actuator button 46 of normally closed switch 48 and thereby open such switch. Motor 26 is of the type which can be stalled without damage so that when energized to open switch 48 it can remain energized to hold switch 48 open for an indefinite period of time.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the system operates as follows. When the disposal unit is running the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 4, i.e. switch 22 in ON position and switch 48 closed. With switches 22 and 46 in this position electric current to run motor 18 is supplied from power source 50 by conductors 52, 54, switch arm 56, switch contact 58, conductor 60, and conductor 62. Solenoid operated water valve 20 is energized to ice admit wa-ter to unit 10 by conductors 52, 54, switch arm 64, switch contact 66 and conductors 68, 70 and 62. As long as switch 22 remains in ON position motor 26 will remain deenergized and thus switch 48 will remain closed.

When it is desired to turn unit 10 off, switch 22 is actuated to its OFF position to thus immediately deenergize disposal motor 18. At the same time motor 26 will 'be energized by current carried by conductor 52, 54, switch arm 56, switch c-ontact y72, and conductors 74, 76 an'd 62. Energization of motor 26 will rotate actuator cam 28 in a oounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 causing pin 36 to engage button 46 of switch 48 to thus cause the switch to open. The opening of switch 48 will deenergize solenoid operated water valve 20 causing such valve 20 to close and thereby shut off the flow of water to disposal unit 10. It will lbe appreciated that there will be a time lapse between the deenergization of disposal motor 18 and the closing of water valve 20 during which period water will be allowed to flow through the disposal unit after its motor has been shut off to thereby thoroughly flush all food particles from the lines at the end of each cycle of operation.

As long as switch 22 remains in its OFF position, motor 26 will continue to be energized to thus hold switch 48 open. As stated previously, motor 26 is of the type which can be stalled indefinitely without damage.

When it is desired to run disposal unit 10 again, switch 22 is actuated to its ON position which, as previously explained, will cause disposal unit motor 18 to be energized. At the same time motor 26 will be deenergized allowing return spring 42 to rotate actuator cam back until face 40 contacts stop pin 44 to thereby allow switch 48 to close. The closing of switch 48 will complete the circuit to solenoid operated water valve 20 which will then be energized to open position and once again allow water to flow through line 12 to unit 10.

It will be appreciated that instead of valve 20 being of the normally closed type it could be replaced with a normally open valve in which event normally closed switch 48 will be replaced with a normally open type wherein switch arm 64 will be biased into contact with contact 67. With this arrangement valve 20 would be deenergized (open) when motor 18 was running and would close (with delayed action) when motor 18 is shut down, to provide the desired flushing action. Valve 20 would, of course, remain in energized condition all the time motor 18 remained idle Ibetween its operational cycles.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. Such modification is comprised of a disposal unit 78 having a Imotor drive 80 and a grinding mechanism 82 and a water supply line 84 and a drain line 86 connected thereto. Water to unit 78 is controlled by a motor operated water valve unit 88, the operation of which is controlled by a manually actuated single pole doublethrow switch 90.

Valve unit 88 includes a motor 92 and a normally open valve 94. Motor 92 is of the type which can be stalled without damage and is operatively connected to valve 94 in any suitable manner so that when motor 92 is energized it will operate to actuate valve 94 from its open to its closed position. A suitable return spring mechanism (not shown) is provided to return the valve to open position upon deenergization of motor 92. While the details of valve unit 88 can vary, one suitable construction is that shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,042,357.

The FIG. 5 modification operates as follows. To run disposal unit 78 switch 90 is actuated to its ON position as shown in FIG. 5. With switch 90 in such position, motor will be energized 'by current supplied from power source 96 by conductor 98, switch arm 100, switch con- 3 tact 102, and conductors 104, 106. The lmotor 92 of valve unit 88 is deenergized so that valve 94 will assume its normally open position to thereby admit water to unit 78 through line 84.

When it is desired to turn unit 78 otr", switch 90 is actuated to its OFF position to thus immediately deenergize disposal drive motor 80. At the same time motor 92 will be energized by current carried from source 96 by conductors 106, 108, 110, switch contact 112, switch arm 100 and conductor 98. Energization of motor 92 will close valve 94 and thereby shut 01T the flow of water to disposal unit 78. The time lapse between the deenergization of disposal drive motor 80 and the iinal closing of valve 94 of unit S8 will allow flow through the disposal unit after its drive motor has |been shut down to thereby thoroughly flush all food particles from the lines at the end lof each cycle of operation.

As long as switch 90 remains in its OFF position, motor 92 will continue to be energized .to thus hold valve 94 open. As previously indicated, `motor 92 is of the type which can be stalled indenitely without damage.

When it is desired to run disposal unit 78 again, switch unit 90 is actuated to its ON position which will start disposal motor 80. At the same time motor 92 will be deenergized allowing normally open Valve 94 to return to its open position and once again allow water to flow through line 84 to unit 78.

While Itwo embodiments of the present invention are shown and described herein, it should be noted that other embodiments are contemplated. For example, in the FIG. 5 embodiment just described normally closed motor operated valve unit 88 could be replaced by a motor operated valve of the type wherein the valve is driven between both its open and closed positions by a suitable motor.

Although but two embodiments of the present invention have Ibeen illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be rnade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A disposal system having a motor driven disposal unit with a water supply line and a drain line connected thereto comprising:

water valve means in said Water supply line to control flow Ito said disposal unit;

motor operated control means for said water valve means adapted when energized to cause said valve means to be closed when a given time interval has elapsed after said disposal drive motor has been deenergized, said motor operated control means including a control motor of the type which can be stalled without damage connected in driven engagement with a switch, said switch connected in series with a solenoid valve operator adapted when energized to actuate said water Valve means, said control motor operatively connected to said normally closed switch by means of a rotatably mounted actuator cam biased =by a return spring means to rotate against the driving force exerted by said control motor; and switch means for alternately energizing and deener- 5 gizing the disposal drive motor and said motor operated control means.

2. A disposal system having a motor driven disposal unit with a Water supply line and a drain line connected thereto comprising:

water valve means in said water su-pply line to control ow to said disposal unit;

motor operated control means for said water valve means, said control means including a timer motor operatively connected to said watervalve means to cause said water valve means to close at a given interval after said timer motor has been energized, said timer Amotor being of the type which can be stalled without damage; and

switch 'means for alternately energizing and deenergizing the disposal drive motor and said motor operated control means.

3. A disposal system having a motor driven disposal unit with a Water supply' line and a drain line connected thereto comprising:

a normally closed solenoid operated Water valve means in said water supply line adapted to control ow to said disposal unit;

motor operated control means for said water valve means including a control motor ofthe type which can be stalled without damage connected in driven engagement with a normally closed switch, said switch connected in series with the s olenoid of said solenoid operated water valve, said control motor adapted when energized to open said switch and thereby allow said solenoid operated valve means to close when a given time interval has elapsed after said disposal drive motor has been energized, said control motor Ibeing operatively connected 'to said normally closed switch by means of a rotatably mounted actuator cam biased by a return spring to rotate against the driving force exerted by said control motor; and

switch means for alternately energizing and deenergizing the disposal drive motor and said control motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, H. F. PEPPER, JR.,

.Assistant Examiners. 

2. A DISPOSAL SYSTEM HAVING A MOTOR DRIVEN DISPOSAL UNIT WITH A WATER SUPPLY LINE AND A DRAIN LINE CONNECTED THERETO COMPRISING: WATER VALVE MEANS IN SAID WATER SUPPLY LINE TO CONTROL FLOW TO SAID DISPOSAL UNIT; MOTOR OPERATED CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID WATER VALVE MEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A TIMER MOTOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WATER VALVE MEANS TO CAUSE SAID WATER VALVE MEANS TO CLOSE AT A GIVEN INTERVAL AFTER SAID TIMER MOTOR HAS BEEN ENERGIZED, SAID TIMER MOTOR BEING OF THE TYPE WHICH CAN BE STALLED WITHOUT DAMAGE; AND SWITCH MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY ENERGIZING AND DEENERGIZING THE DISPOSAL DRIVE MOTOR AND SAID MOTOR OPERATED CONTROL MEANS. 